Hearts 0-3 Kilmarnock

Paul Heffernan 42,65,71

FT (ht: 0-1)

Last Updated: February 16 2013, 17:28 GMT

Paul Heffernan scored a hat-trick as Kilmarnock continued their march up the Clydesdale Bank Premier League table with a convincing victory at Hearts.

Heffernan became the second Kilmarnock player to score a hat-trick at Tynecastle this season, matching the absent Cillian Sheridan's tally from earlier in the campaign.

The striker gave his side a 1-0 half-time lead, before a six-minute second-half double settled the contest.

The win moves Kenny Shiels' side into fifth after winning their third league win in four.

The only blip in that time frame occurred on Wednesday night when an injury time equaliser from Borja Perez rescued a point from the away trip to Inverness.

The Spaniard had scored after being set up by James Dayton and it was the winger who was at the heart of everything positive Kilmarnock did in attack from this fruitful visit to the capital.

The match had been an intriguing, if unimaginative, spectacle, in the first half. Both sides were committed to building from the back with short passing, but each team was fully aware of the others side's intentions and it made for few highlights until Heffernan broke the deadlock.

Dayton retrieved an over-hit pass from the opposite flank before whipping a left-footed cross into the six-yard box for Heffernan to nod home.

Gorgie's new favourite, Liverpool loanee Michael Ngoo, had cut an isolated figure in the first half and Hearts boss John McGlynn responded by bringing on fellow striker John Sutton at half-time and switching to a 4-4-2.

The change temporarily had the desire effect on the pattern of play with the hosts carving out a flurry of meaningful chances in the opening 15 minutes following the restart.

Cammy Bell had to be quick to push away a Scott Robinson shot from 20 yards before fisting away a Fraser Mullen's free-kick two minutes later.

With Hearts throwing bodies forward for a succession of set-pieces Kilmarnock almost doubled their advantage on the counter-attack. Billy King's poor touch allowed Heffernan and Dayton a two-on-one against the covering Callum Tapping. Heffernan carried until playing in Dayton for the shot which Jamie McDonald was able to push away for a corner.

Substitute Sutton then had his first chance to make an impact. He was picked out by a Mullen free-kick but Jerome Tesselaar just did enough in leaning into the striker and forcing an off balance header that flew over the bar.

Hearts would rue those missed chances as the visitors doubled their lead three minutes later. Dayton's corner from the left was headed back across goal by William Gros and Heffernan was on hand again to smash the ball into the corner of the net with a shot on the turn.

The hosts almost had an immediate route back into the match but Ngoo's close range header was scrambled clear on the line by James Fowler.

Any doubt about the security of the away side's lead was obliterated on 71 minutes when Heffernan secured his hat-trick.

Exploiting the space created by Hearts pushing further up the park, Perez was played in for a shot on goal by Heffernan. He saw his low shot saved superbly by McDonald but the rebound fell kindly for the English striker to stroke into the unguarded net.

The match has reached full-time.

Danny Wilson takes a shot. Cameron Bell makes a save.
91

Short corner taken by Arvydas Novikovas from the right by-line.
90

Free kick awarded for a foul by Fraser Mullen on William Gros. Free kick taken by Cameron Bell.
90

Mohamadou Sissoko fouled by Michael Ngoo, the ref awards a free kick. Booking for Michael Ngoo. Free kick taken by Cameron Bell.
88

Jamie Walker fouled by William Gros, the ref awards a free kick. Jamie MacDonald takes the direct free kick.
84

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Danny Racchi by Dylan McGowan. Cameron Bell takes the free kick.
84

Arvydas Novikovas decides to take the corner short.
83

Unfair challenge on Michael Ngoo by Ryan O'Leary results in a free kick. Scott Robinson takes the free kick.
83

The official flags John Sutton offside. Indirect free kick taken by Cameron Bell.
82

Rory McKenzie replaces Sammy Clingan.
81

The ball is delivered by Arvydas Novikovas, Mohamadou Sissoko makes a clearance.
80

Arvydas Novikovas decides to take the corner short.
80

Outswinging corner taken by Fraser Mullen from the right by-line.
78

The assistant referee signals for offside against John Sutton. Cameron Bell takes the free kick.
77

Mohamadou Sissoko concedes a free kick for a foul on Arvydas Novikovas. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Fraser Mullen, Ryan O'Leary gets a block in.
75

Jeroen Tesselaar challenges Jamie Walker unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Andy Webster.
74

Ryan O'Leary is brought on as a substitute for Manuel Pascali.
73

Borja Perez takes a shot. Save by Jamie MacDonald. A goal is scored by Paul Heffernan from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Hearts 0-3 Kilmarnock.Assist by Borja Perez.
70

Corner taken right-footed by Fraser Mullen from the right by-line, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Andy Webster misses to the right of the target.
68

Billy King produces a cross, Michael Ngoo takes a shot. Sammy Clingan manages to make a clearance. Unfair challenge on Manuel Pascali by Andy Webster results in a free kick. Arvydas Novikovas on for Billy King. Free kick taken by Cameron Bell.
67

Corner taken short by Jamie Walker.
66

The referee blows for offside against Paul Heffernan. Free kick taken by Andy Webster.
66

Danny Racchi comes on in place of James Dayton.
65

Corner taken by James Dayton. Paul Heffernan scores a goal from deep inside the penalty area to the top right corner of the goal. Hearts 0-2 Kilmarnock.The assist for the goal came from William Gros.
63

Scott Robinson takes has a header from just inside the penalty box which clears the crossbar.
63

Corner from the left by-line taken by Jamie Walker, Manuel Pascali manages to make a clearance.
62

Unfair challenge on Callum Tapping by James Fowler results in a free kick. Danny Wilson takes the direct free kick.
61

Booking for Manuel Pascali for unsporting behaviour. Manuel Pascali gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Billy King. The ball is swung over by Fraser Mullen, Header on goal by John Sutton from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.
59

Jamie Walker takes a shot. Save by Cameron Bell.
58

Foul by Jamie Walker on Sammy Clingan, free kick awarded. Manuel Pascali restarts play with the free kick.
57

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on James Fowler by Scott Robinson. Cameron Bell takes the free kick.
55

The official flags James Dayton offside. Jamie MacDonald takes the free kick.
54

James Dayton takes a shot. Jamie MacDonald makes a save. Corner from right by-line taken by Borja Perez.
52

Inswinging corner taken by Jamie Walker from the left by-line, clearance by Borja Perez.
52

Corner taken by Fraser Mullen, Mohamadou Sissoko makes a clearance.
51

Foul by Mohamadou Sissoko on John Sutton, free kick awarded. Direct strike on goal from the free kick comes in from Fraser Mullen, save by Cameron Bell.
50

Scott Robinson takes a shot. Cameron Bell makes a save. Corner taken by Jamie Walker, Manuel Pascali manages to make a clearance.
49

The referee penalises Andy Webster for handball. Sammy Clingan takes the direct free kick.
48

The referee gets the second half started.

(Hearts) makes a substitution, with John Sutton coming on for Jason Holt.
45

The whistle is blown to end the first half.

Dylan McGowan gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul Heffernan. Jeroen Tesselaar restarts play with the free kick.
50

Paul Heffernan gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Callum Tapping. Free kick taken by Scott Robinson.
49

Corner taken right-footed by Borja Perez from the right by-line, clearance by Michael Ngoo.
43

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on William Gros by Jamie Walker. Free kick taken by Sammy Clingan.
43

Centre by James Dayton, Paul Heffernan grabs a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Hearts 0-1 Kilmarnock.James Dayton provided the assist for the goal.
41

Jamie Walker takes a shot. Save by Cameron Bell.
39

Dylan McGowan joins the action as a substitute, replacing Darren Barr.
36

The official flags Michael Ngoo offside. Cameron Bell restarts play with the free kick.
28

Fraser Mullen challenges James Dayton unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Sammy Clingan.
26

Fraser Mullen delivers the ball, Header on goal by Jamie Walker from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.
23

Corner from left by-line taken by Jamie Walker.
18

Borja Perez concedes a free kick for a foul on Andy Webster. Free kick taken by Jason Holt.
13

Handball by William Gros. Direct free kick taken by Danny Wilson.
12

The offside flag is raised against Paul Heffernan. Jamie MacDonald restarts play with the free kick.
10

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Fraser Mullen, clearance made by Mohamadou Sissoko.
9

Shot from just outside the box by James Fowler goes over the bar.
3

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on William Gros by Danny Wilson. William Gros restarts play with the free kick.
2

Unfair challenge on William Gros by Callum Tapping results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Sammy Clingan.
2

The referee gets the match started.

Taken from sportinglife.com